Rome, 25 April 2025 – An IT Alert alarm startled Romans and the faithful shortly after 13pm today, 25 April, causing no small amount of apprehension.
The message, sent to the smartphones of all citizens within the Grande Raccordo Anulare of Rome, rang simultaneously at 13:11 p.m., generating confusion and fear. Many feared a serious emergency, such as an imminent earthquake, but it was a much more ordinary warning: the early closure of access to St. Peter's Square for the final farewell to Pope Francis, scheduled for 17 p.m. today.
The alarm, however, has rung even inside St. Peter's Basilica, among the faithful gathered in prayer in front of the Pope's coffin, despite the ban on keeping cell phones turned on.
A Message That Generated Confusion, Even in the Basilica
The It-Alert, released by the Department of Civil Protection, was sent in Italian, English, French and Spanish, to reach the greatest number of people possible, including the many foreign pilgrims who arrived in the Capital.
However, the system usually reserved for catastrophic emergencies took citizens by surprise, who wondered whether such an alarmist warning was really necessary to communicate logistical information.
On X, one user commented: “An alarm on all cell phones in Rome like for disasters, just to say that St. Peter's Square closes at 17pm? Wouldn't a press release have been better?”
And that's not all: the sound also spread inside St. Peter's Basilica, among the faithful who were paying homage to Pope Francis' coffin, despite instructions to turn off their devices. A moment of reflection was abruptly interrupted, which added discomfort to an event already charged with emotion.
A Massive Organization, But More Clarity Needed
The authorities, in collaboration with the Civil Protection and Ares 118, have deployed an impressive safety and assistance device: 6 advanced medical points, 7 medicalized ambulances, 11 nursing ambulances, 80 foot rescue teams and a field decontamination unit.
In addition, 50 ambulances and 50 teams on foot have been deployed in the areas with the highest traffic to manage the enormous flow of pilgrims. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri declared that the flow to the coffin is proceeding regularly, while Prefect Lamberto Giannini detailed the route of the funeral procession, which from St. Peter's Square will cross the Imperial Forums, via Labicana and via Merulana, up to the private burial in Santa Maria Maggiore.
However, today's alarm episode highlights a communication problem: in a moment of great emotion such as the farewell to Pope Francis, both citizens and believers need clarity and reassurance, not messages that generate fear. The Civil Protection, while acting with the best intentions, should review the tone and the channel of dissemination for logistical warnings, avoiding fueling unnecessary anxiety - and disturbing solemn moments such as those experienced in the Basilica.
Comments (1)
Today's alarm has created a lot of confusion among the Romans, it is strange that such an alarming message was used for a non-emergency situation. Perhaps a different way to inform everyone should have been thought of.